...as a mother of twins. I was recently perusing the message boards over at a motherhood site where they were talking about what they miss most from the newborn days and I read through everything b/c I was interested, having just left them.
One mother said she missed being able to put the newborn in the stroller, walk down to the coffee shop, sit and drink coffee, then stroll back, nurse, put in a movie and nap.
I sat back, shocked. Is this was singleton motherhood is like? Let me break down that statement from a twin's point of view:
1. Singleton: Put the newborn in the stroller. Twins: My huge behemoth stroller handles both my girls just fine, but can be tricky to maneuver and doesn't fit very well in coffee shops with all their little tables and chairs.
2. Singleton: Walk down to the coffee shop. Twins: Well, this one really isn't her fault...I live in Wisconsin where we have all four seasons and the girls were born in December.
3. Singleton: Sit and drink coffee. Twins: Someone is going to need something about halfway through my coffee. Then, the second one is going to need something. Then the first one again.
4. Singleton: Nurse. Twins: One will nurse, but not enough for a whole meal, most likely, and the other one doesn't nurse at all, so I'll use both hands and bottle feed them at the same time in the world's most uncomfortable position because Mae always turns her head to the side and spills half her meal so I'll have two burps cloths - one around her neck and one underneath her. And Eve will need to be burped at least three times during the course of three oz. which can be tricky when doing it one handed, since if I interrupt Mae in her meal she'll scream.
5. Singleton: Put in a movie and nap. Twins: HA! Ok, usually between 2:30-4:00 they would both fall asleep together for a long nap, so I could nap as well. The rest of the time right about the moment one fell asleep the other would wake up. So, movies...I didn't have the patience to watch them and napping...hahahahaha.
But yet I cherish the newborn time with my girls. Those first two weeks, when Randy was home with us the entire time are especially meaningful for me, as we all got to know one another.
And I'm not complaining about having them both (well, maybe a little), but I was caught off-guard at how easy having only one baby sounded in that post. These little ladies of mine are wonderful girls, but there are two of them at all times. Even now the only real down time is from 8:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. when they're both down no matter what. After 1 a.m. one or both of them may wake up, but Randy and I relish the five hours prior.
I love having twins and I am VERY grateful I had them first so I don't know any better. I don't know it could be simpler. Next time (yes, I'm already talking about next time) there will only be one and the girls will be old enough to help out. Then I'll get to drink coffee, watch movies and take care of 4 year-old twins and a newborn. Doesn't that sound relaxing?
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